Bassinet Makeover

My original plan for our little man was to move the crib we have into our bedroom and he can start his days sleeping in that. Then I came across this bassinet at a local thrift store and it was half off for $15...so I thought it might be nice to save some of our bedroom space until he makes the move into our daughter's bedroom. I used some Harley Davidson fabric that I found at Goodwill last week. My husband is a Harley lover, a Harley rider, a Harley mechanic, and now even teaches the subject for a living. So, I guess you could say we like motorcycles in this house?

So, I paid my $15, loaded it up in the back of my mom's truck, and scared my husband when he saw me walking through the door with this:

Oh come on...it's beautiful in it's own "why were lace and ribbons ever a trend?" way:)

I wanted to make my own cover for it, and I tried to use the existing one that was on there as a pattern...but it just didn't seem to give me the same look I wanted. So in the end...I just measured the bassinet and winged it!

I started by tracing the mattress to make the bottom part of my cover.

(And yes, you can be jealous of the awesome floral mattress that came with this gem)

I traced it with an extra 1" all the way around. I knew I could always take it in if I needed to...but if it was too tight...then the whole project would end badly.

Next, I placed the mattress and the new mattress piece I cut out into the bottom of the bassinet to see how it fit. I then measure from the top of the mattress to the top of the bassinet edge and half way around (I needed two pieces to make the inner edge).

When I am trying to recover something, I like to tape on the pieces I have made to make sure it looks like it will all come together when I sew it.

I cut out another piece for the inner edge and then measured the whole outer edge and made two pieces for that as well (my seams are on the two long ends of the bassinet). I decided I wanted the cover to come down on the outside about 6 inches.

Finally, I sewed it all together. I started by sewing together the two inner edge pieces at each end (right sides facing), creating a big circle or "bumper" for the bassinet. Next, I sewed the bottom piece to the inner edge (right sides facing). Now I had what looked like a fabric basket. Finally, I took the two outer pieces (also sewn together at each end with right sides facing) creating another large circle, and sewed that to the edge of the inner piece.

The outside of the bassinet was a little larger than the inside measurement, so that's why I have a little pucker in the middle of the front (and middle of the back) of my cover.

Also, just to make sure it fit securely, I folded under the outer edge that was still raw and sewed it all the way around with a 1" seam allowance, leaving a 2" opening. I then measured some elastic around the outside of the bassinet and strung it through my opening. I sewed the ends of the elastic together, fed it into the opening, and sewed the opening shut.

Here is the final product (after my husband also touched up the paint job). I made a little orange and black blanket to match too.

Also, if you want a little more padding than just the mattress, you could sew some batting to the wrong side of your bottom piece or iron some fusible felt onto it for a little more cushion.

I'm sorry there weren't many photos with this tutorial. I was sewing it late at night and trying to figure it out as I went along. It was actually one of the easiest projects I have done in a while. It only has a few pieces to it, but it's the measuring that takes a little time.

I love the fresh new look it has and I can't wait to bring home our little guy so he can try it out:)

Price:

bassinet: $15

fabric: $2.50

elastic: $.10

Total: $17.60

I'm linked to:

Sugar and Dots

Tatertots and Jello

Boy or Girl?

I had my anatomy ultrasound today and I was more than ready for it! We sat and watched the screen as the technician pointed out each body part and that they all looked perfect (I think I let out a sigh of relief with each one) and then she asked if we wanted to know the gender....um heck yeah!

It's a BOY!!!

I knew right away when the technician scanned over the area...but my husband didn't know what he was looking at...so the he had to wait for the tech to tell him:) I cried and he laughed! We just could NOT believe it! I know he wanted a little man to do "guy things" with, especially since we have been blessed with a daughter (and all the pink and tiaras that come with her)...so it was just a perfect moment.

We ran into Target for a minute before my husband had to go to work and couldn't resist picking up this musical giraffe. I think it will look really cute with his bedding. Oh my...I still can't get used to saying "him" or "his"!

It still feels so surreal...but SO exciting all at the same time! I thought I might be a little sad to not make all the girly accessories for a baby girl this time around...but I didn't care at all! I can't wait for all the things that come with little boys. My husband and I would giggle every time we said "our son"...I know...what nerds!

Thank you again for all your wonderful comments and emails! Today was such an emotional day in a good way...and that's something we have been looking forward to for a long time;) Knowing this baby is healthy and halfway here is wonderful!

So, bring on the baby boy crafts!

3 Days to Go....

I have my ultrasound on Friday and I don't think the next three days can go by quickly enough!

Normally I don't like time to pass too quickly because I am learning to enjoy these last days as a mama of 1 and I'm really trying to give more of my complete attention to my daughter...but maybe the next three days could still go by just a little quicker than usual?

Oh well, a watched pot never boils, right? And I've been watching my stomach for over 4 months:)

So, please pray for me over the next few days and for our appointment Friday. I am VERY anxious to hear and see the baby again and to hear that all is well! Then after all that...I wanna know if it's a boy or a girl!

Nursery Decor Part 2: Girl Style

Earlier I showed you what I am loving in terms of decor if we end up having a boy. Here are my choices if we are having a girl:

I am loving yellows and pinks and browns. My daughter's room is already pink and yellow...so adding another girl to the room would be very easy!

I love the same idea for artwork above the crib.

Side note: I haven't leaned towards wanting one gender or another (I'm basically just so happy to be pregnant and healthy is all that matters!), but after looking at all this girl stuff online...it just makes me SO happy! Plus, we also LOVE the name we have picked out for a girl. Why can't boy names be as easy?? Ah...but then I think of not having a boy and that makes me sad too! One thing's for sure...there is only one in there and we will get to find out what it is in less than two weeks!

I love this Charlotte bedding by Dwell. Although the colors aren't really the direction I am going in (but I love them too!) I love the pattern:

Oh, and isn't this crib amazing??? The hubs and I are in love (with a crib?) and I'm sure if we ever figured out where to buy it...we wouldn't be able to afford it:(

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BTW: I love the stripes mixed in with this pattern. Our crib bedding doesn't have a crib skirt...but I would make one if it's a girl.

In the crib I think a homemade version of this owl is a must. How cute would it be to have one side of the owl "sleeping" and one side "awake"?

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One thing is for sure...if it's a girl this time around...she WILL have a yellow crib...and a pink chandelier:)

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So, it's about time we really find out what this baby is!! I can't wait to start calling them by their name and not "baby" or "it". More power to those moms-to-be that wait until birth to find out the gender. To me...18 weeks is already long enough!! I heard someone say finding out what the baby is early, or at birth is a wonderful surprise either way and I totally agree:)

So, my daughter is convinced it's a girl...and my husband kinda, sorta (totally) would like a little man on his side. Either way, in a week or so...someone is getting taken out for sympathy icecream if things don't go their way:)

A Cupcake Kind of Day

I was in the mood for a cupcake today.

So I made some and they were amazing:)

We had a mini celebration today. I had my 10 week appointment with my OB and my pregnancy is progressing just fine. They always start by taking my blood pressure and I always ask what it is (perfect every time) and I am surprised that it's not high with how anxious I get before each appointment;)

They let me have another ultrasound today to check growth and I measured at 10 weeks and 1 day, so they are keeping my 11-11-11 due date for sure now. I got to see little arm buds flailing about and the heartbeat was 168! I could sit there all day and watch that monitor. I'm always sad when it's over.

So, it was definitely a cupcake kind of day! I only put on a half of a pound in between my monthly visit...so I figured a food splurge was OK:) My body has tricked me lately, though. My morning sickness diminished greatly from 7-8 weeks of pregnancy...so I did a "Praise the Lord!" dance...and the nausea came back badder than ever a few days ago. Oh well, in some weird way it is comforting...at least for the next few weeks, then I am ready to say "good bye" to it again and hopefully for good!

So, celebrate something today and make some cupcakes. I know they will make you feel better;) I used a white cake mix and my favorite frosting recipe EVER!:

1 tub whipped cream

1 can fluffy vanilla frosting

Beat both together until fluffy and spread on cupcakes. I like to pipe it on with a bag and tip just cause you get more frosting and it looks prettier:) Also, keep these cupcakes covered and in the fridge so the icing doesn't melt. Enjoy!

I'm Telling

Last time I waited to share fun news with you all "in case something happened"...and it did happen...and in the end I didn't feel any better about keeping the secret to myself.

So...here goes!

I'm pregnant!

I am 7 weeks along, we got to see the most beautiful little heartbeat on Wednesday, and I'm happy. I'm VERY happy:)

My due date is 11-11-11! I think that is just so awesome;)

It's been an emotional roller coaster since we found out three weeks ago. I had a wonderful counseling session on Wednesday after my appointment (seriously...counseling is uh-mazing...everyone should go) and my counselor just really helped me sort through a lot of the different feelings that I have. At the end of the meeting, she encouraged me to let myself be happy...so I am:)

I have no idea what will happen... all I know is I can't spend every day thinking up solutions to a "what if I miscarry again?" scenario. All I have is today. God has give me that and for that I feel incredibly grateful and blessed.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed or commented on my miscarriage. I really can not believe how much support I got and how much I was able to help others through this little craft blog. It means so much to me;)